Diary Entry #1: Easter

Oops... I've been terribly lazy in updating this blog since my first post, so I'll make sure I try and do 1 or 2 posts a week from now on.

First and foremost thanks for reading the first post, somehow it managed to get 220+ views, and I think I only contributed to about 200 of them! Haha.

So last week, the lads from home came down to Portsmouth to enjoy what will probably turn out to be their last night in Portsmouth with me. As the Easter holidays were approaching I figured I would be spending the majority of my time working on my dissertation, so I invited them down for the Thursday and Friday.

The boys - ; Tom (@itstomcooper), Russell (@llesuRydnA),  Manners (@The_AndyManners) and Cal (@CalumJBrereton6). - seemed to have a quality time down here, and we kicked off with Thursday night at Tiger Tiger - my favourite nightclub in Portsmouth (which isn't exactly saying much!) - before a night at Liquid on Friday.

Me and the lads in Liquid looking surprisingly fresh after consecutively 'strawpedo-ing' 2 VK's  

During my first two years at Portsmouth Uni, there was a solid rivalry between it's two main nightclubs; Tiger Tiger and Liquid. Is it just me, or has this rivalry become rather one-sided? I've been to Liquid only a few times this year, and each time it seems half empty with little atmosphere. Tiger Tiger on the other hand is often packed to the rafters, with much better choice of music (always the room on the right, at the top of the stairs) and let's just say, a more attractive clientèle base! Not sure what has happened to Liquid, maybe someone can enlighten me? Does anyone actually prefer Liquid to Tiger??

On Saturday, we all went to cure our hangovers' at Big Ernie's Diner, on Albert Road, Southsea, which as the name suggests, is in the theme of a classic American Diner. Their website describes this place as a 'World Famous Diner' which I must admit is highly ambitious, considering it was half empty and even the local 118-118 woman hadn't heard of it!!

I went to Big Ernie's with one thing in mind; Big Ernie's Challenge. For those of you that don't know, the challenge consists of 1.5lb (24oz) burger, 15 onion rings, 6oz bun, whole plate of fries, a milkshake and a small ice cream dessert. It must all be eaten within 45 minutes to get it free and your picture on the 'Wall of Fame', otherwise you must pay £25. I consider myself to have a good, although occasionally excessive, appetite. Completing this challenge is an achievement, that would definitely rank up there alongside runner-up in the Year 5 Egg and Spoon Race, and getting a 'Turkey' (3 strikes in a row) down the local bowling alley, in my list of lifetime achievements.

Heart Attack on a plate: Big Ernie's Challenge

The main problem I had was that due to my current financial situation, failure was simply not an option. If I were to fail, as I did not have £25 to give them, I would suffer the incomparable embarrassment of not only failing the challenge but also not being able to pay-up! After a prolonged period of deliberation and taking on board the waitress's warning (who was unbelievably hot, by the way) that they had made the burger BIGGER, I bottled it.

The boys were all disappointed in me, I was disappointed in myself, but I'm almost certain that it would have ended me, and decided to go for the easy option of a Double Burger with Bacon and Cheese instead, which went down in record time.

Shortly after the boys went back, I also returned home for the Easter break. Being given a 3 week break from lectures at this time of year is great, but to be honest I'd be much happier with just 2 weeks and finishing Uni a week earlier in May/June!

Easter; Is it more than just chocolate?

I don't want to cause offence to any traditional Christians who may (although probably won't) read this, but Easter does not mean anything to me whatsoever. When I reminisce on this time of year throughout my childhood, all I can think of is Easter Eggs! I think I had one Easter Egg this year, which I ate a week before Easter Sunday! The only positive consequence of Easter is that I'd usually do something more family-orientated than perhaps I would on a typical Sunday.

Being at Uni you really appreciate certain home comforts. In my case, it would be; A fridge full of food, Sky HD and friends & family. Living in Portsmouth as a student I often feel that I'm living a sub-standard lifestyle, and it really makes me appreciate being at home, which I would have taken for granted if I hadn't come to Uni.

I'm back in Portsmouth now, with 2 weeks still remaining of the Easter break, but unfortunately I've got so much to do with regards to my dissertation and other coursework, that I can't afford to spend my time at home where there are too many distractions! So I'm back here in a free house all week (Project X, anyone?).

I'll only post a 'diary' entry like this every couple of weeks, I've got some other fun and interesting blog post ideas in mind until then (my next one will be about football).

Thanks for reading, if you want to get in touch find me via Twitter @samhavill or leave a comment below!

Sam